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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen-Blyth Festival 2000, 2000-06-21, Page 27BLYTH FESTIVAL SALUTE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2000. PAGE 3. Festival’s 26th season features heroes and villains By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff' Blyth Festival's Artistic Director Anne Chislett describes her third season as one of heroes and villains. From the innocence of Anne to the evil of Albert Walker in Stolen Lives — The Albert Walker Story, Chislett thinks the season is quite varied and exciting. I think the audience will like these shows.” What Chislett has brought to the Festival stage this year is a mix of the familiar and the new, with the return by popular demand of Paul Thompson's collective Death of a Hired Man and Peter Colley's hugely accepted When the Reaper Calls. Also for longtime Blyth fans is the return to the stage of Anne Anglin and Michelle Fisk. “It's great to have Annie back and Michelle is certainly becoming a resident star. They will be a great combo in Corker!' Having mounted two successful seasons, Chislett is making her mark on the Festival with the introduction of a Canadian family classic. “A number of people have been saying that while we have produced many plays suitable for young theatregoers we have never really done one for families. Anne is for them to bring their children." Chislett's choice was also personal. “I have wanted to formalize a Canadian classic in season. This is the classic of all time. It’s a particularly nice play that was actually on the list for last year until we decided to go with all new plays.” Accentuating this classic is a “fabulous cast” says Chislett. Anne is played by Samantha Reynolds, who made an impact last year in Every Dream and most notably as Daisy in That Summer. Familiar folk to Blyth audiences, Terry Tweed, Thomas Hauff and Caroline Gillis are supported by many young new faces to round out the cast. This season’s third offering is Corker by Wendy Lili, well known playwright and Member of Parliament. It is a work that Chislett chose not only for its timeliness, but also because it deals out a message without being heavy-handed. The premiere of Colley’s Stolen Lives — The Albert Walker Story brings not only a darker element to the season, but creates a precedent when combined with the remount of the playwright’s hit from last season Reaper. “We’re not in any sense glorifying a criminal, but looking at the effect he has on the lives of others.” To have two plays by the same playwright in a season is new, said Chislett, but as is often the case a result of circumstances. “Peter approached me last spring with the idea of doing a story on Albert Walker. I didn’t know at that point that we were going to remount Reaper. But it took oft and I would never delay a writer for that reason so we bring one back and premiere another.” Directed by Linda Moore, artistic director of Neptune Theatre in Halifax, who last worked in Blyth on 1986's Another Season's Promise, Walker’s story has a good deal of suspense as audiences watch “the noose tighten around him,” says Chislett. “And we are very pleased to have a major director here to work on it.” Michael Healey's The Drawer Bov was workshopped in Blyth several ‘ years ago as Morgan and Arigus. It has since gone on to be a “phenomenal success", says Chislett. “Soon everyone in the world will be seeing it and I wanted Blyth to get the chance before that.” A story of wonderful “heart and humour” The Drawer Boy is directed by the Festival’s Associate Artistic Director Eric Coates. Heroes got the season off to an early start this year with the remount of Paul Thompson’s collective Death of a Hired Man which closed after a two-week run in early June. “I believe in the idea of striking while the iron is hot,” says Chislett of the monumental success of Death last year. However,- as the show was “phenomenally huge to mount” and its director phenomenally busy, spring was going to be the only time possible to extend its run. “Storing that straw for two years didn’t make any sense at all, but so many people didn’t get a chance to see it last year this was the season’s aperitif. Reaper is the cherry on the sundae.” Now with the 2000 season underway Chislett looks on it as one of lighter fare. “All the shows are positive, even Stolen Lives has an aspect of hope. I think people will go home with lighter hearts from this season’s productions.” Festival Artistic Director Anne Chislett has created a season of old favourites and new stories. HAMM'S CAR SALES LTD. would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone visiting Blyth this summer Congratulations & Best Wishes to the Blyth Festival as they open their 26th season BLYTH SALES 523-4342 SERVICE 523-9581 Take Star Choice for a test drive. The Star Choice Mobile Den is coming to your neighbourhood. Come out and have a close encounter with superior picture quality, Dolby® Surround Sound and unbeatable programming. Just kick back and take in everything Star Choice has to offer - including the revolutionary new High Definition TV experience. Visit the Star Choice Mobile Den before it rolls on The den will be located on the North end of Josephine Street in Wingham (beside Beer Store). 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